"I understand your desire to not sell the gun for drasticly less than it's worth but the reserve does not stimulate bidding"

It's a fact, proven by stats, that reserves do help stimulate bidding. Just look at the glorious Ebay - they would hardly promote reserves if it didn't.

I'm not saying I like reserves...but they are a fact of life.

Most of all, you guys are confusing an honest reserve, which would reflect the low end of a gun's value, with a BS reserve, used to prevent all but the dumbest from bidding.